Brave New World Characters
The main characters in Brave New World are Bernard Marx, Lenina Crowne, the Director, Linda, John, Helmholtz Watson, and Mustapha Mond.
- Bernard Marx is the alienated World State citizen who brings John to London.
- Lenina Crowne falls in love with John.
- The Director is Bernard’s boss and John’s father.
- Linda is the Director’s ex-girlfriend and John’s mother. The director abandoned her during a vacation to the reservation.
- John is the Director’s illegitimate son. He was raised on the savage reservation and learned to read using The Complete Works of Shakespeare.
- Helmholtz Watson is Bernard’s best friend.
- Mustapha Mond is Resident World Controller for Western Europe.
Characters
All characters in Brave New World who live in the World State are born into a carefully controlled caste system. Ranking from highest to lowest are Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons. Most of the main characters struggle in different ways to fully accept the social structure of the World State. They also make attempts at freedom—some hesitant and some desperate—with varying degrees of success.
Bernard Marx
An Alpha Plus, Bernard works for the Director as an expert in hypnopædia, though he has become disillusioned by his work. He is shorter in stature than most men of his rank. His height and his unorthodox behaviors foster a rumor that alcohol was accidentally added to his blood-surrogate.
Bernard harbors a secret hatred for Henry Foster because of the way he treats Lenina, whom Bernard loves. Yet, due to his inferiority complex, Bernard also envies Henry for the ease with which he moves through and is accepted in society.
Bernard’s friendship with John, also known as “the Savage,” suddenly catapults Bernard to the top of the social hierarchy. He decides to take advantage of his status and indulges in all the things he was critical of before, including soma. When his popularity abruptly sinks, however, he becomes distraught.
When John rebels by trying to deny Delta workers of their beloved soma, Bernard wants to help him and save him from the Delta’s mobbish anger. However, Bernard cannot bring himself to help John out of fear of persecution. Mustapha confronts Bernard, who becomes inconsolable at the idea of being sent to an island. He then turns on John and Helmholtz, though he later apologizes to them.
Helmholtz Watson
Helmholtz is a lecturer at the College of Emotional Engineering, as well as a writer. He is Bernard’s closest friend and shares with him a feeling of being different from the rest of society. For Helmholtz, this difference manifests intellectually instead of physically, as he possess the characteristic physical features of an Alpha Plus; unlike Bernard, Helmholtz is tall and handsome. Helmholtz senses that there is something more meaningful beneath the superficiality offered by society, but he cannot identify what that something is. Undaunted, he seeks it out and has long conversations about it with Bernard.
Helmholtz longs to write something meaningful, so he begins writing about taboo subjects like loneliness. He is reported for his unconventionality, but he takes this lightly and feels as though he’s finally reaching his potential. When he is exiled by Mustapha, he chooses to go to the Falkland Islands, where he feels the moody climate will bolster his writing.
John the Savage
John is the son of the Director and Linda. He has light-colored hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. Born and raised among the Native Americans at Malpais, John is always treated as an outsider and is fascinated by his mother’s descriptions of the “Other Place,” where she grew up.
John learns to read from an old collection of Shakespeare’s works and adopts a slightly old-fashioned way of speaking because of it. He is the first character to reference the book’s title, a quote from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, as a descriptor for modern society in the World State.
He is excited to accompany Bernard and Lenina when they return to the World State, but he soon becomes disheartened by its rigid social structure and its normalized promiscuity. Everyone he meets finds him odd and refers to him as “the Savage.” Despite being in love with Lenina, he disparages her sexual forwardness and becomes violent with her when she tries to seduce him.
He is distraught after Linda’s death and enraged that no one else seems to care. After attempting to rebel against the social order, he is forced into isolation by Mustapha Mond. He becomes determined to live out a monkish life and renounce worldly pleasures. His plan goes awry, however, after World State citizens discover his hermitage. Their unrelenting fascination is unbearable to him, and it drives him to take his own life.
Lenina Crowne
Lenina is an unsterilized woman, called a “freemartin,” who is employed as a vaccination worker at the Hatchery and Conditioning Center. She is described as having lupus, which makes her eyes purple and teeth coral. But she is also uncommonly pretty, with wavy, auburn hair. She has had many sexual partners, most recently (and most exclusively) Henry Foster, but expresses to her friend Fanny that she’s growing tired of promiscuity. She finds herself interested in Bernard for his unusual looks and behavior.
After meeting John, she is instantly attracted to him and falls in love with him. She becomes annoyed with Bernard and Henry and instead obsesses over how to seduce John. She doesn’t understand why he won’t give in to her advances, and her feelings for him take a turn after he attacks her and calls her a whore.
She attempts to reconcile with him after his exile when a crowd is cajoling him, but he turns on her violently. Whether or not she survives his attack is left unclear.
Mustapha Mond
As the Resident World Controller for Western Europe, Mustapha Mond is the highest-ranking character in the novel. He and ten other Controllers are responsible for making sure society remains in accordance with “His Fordship’s,” or Henry Ford’s, vision. Mustapha is described as being of medium height and having dark hair, a hooked nose, full lips, and dark, piercing eyes.
Mustapha is fascinated by rebels but believes such people cannot be allowed to live among society, for they will create disorder and upset the manufactured happiness of the people. When he sends Bernard and Helmholtz off to live on an island, he believes he is doing them a favor by allowing them to live out their days with people he feels are more interesting than the citizens of the World State. Mustapha is particularly interested in John, which is why he lets him live as a hermit; he views John as just another experiment.
Years prior to the events in the novel, Mustapha was also a rebel. He considers his accepting the position of Controller as a way of making amends for his behavior, a sacrifice he needed to make in order to do well by society. He believes that this sacrifice gives him the right to be secretly deviant, and he keeps a hidden collection of old, banned books in his study.
Linda
Linda is a Beta and the birth mother of John. Formerly a worker in the Fertilization Room, she becomes trapped at the reservation in Malpais after getting separated from the Director, her lover at the time.
Despite taking all the necessary contraceptive precautions, Linda became pregnant with John. She raises John on the reservation, where she is treated as an outcast and reviled by all the local women for sleeping with their husbands. Though she loves John, she is also ashamed of his socially unacceptable birth and is violent with him when he attempts to interrupt her trysts with local men, including Popé.
Because she has not had access to the advanced medical care and anti-aging treatments from home, she has visibly aged and has wrinkles, floppy skin, and missing teeth, which disgust the characters from the World State, particularly Lenina. Linda is desperate to return to the World State, and upon doing so, she attempts to reunite with the Director. After he rejects her, she takes soma constantly, driving herself to an early death.
The Director (Thomas)
Thomas, also called Tomakin and the D.H.C. by some characters, is the Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning for Central London and Bernard’s boss. He is the first prominent character readers meet in the novel. He plans to exile Bernard to Iceland for his unorthodoxy, but he doesn’t get the chance. After being publicly humiliated when Linda reveals that he fathered her child, he resigns from his job.
Fanny Crowne
Fanny is Lenina’s friend; she shares the same last name as her, although they are unrelated. Fanny is a worker in the Bottling Room and a “freemartin.” She is nineteen and has brown hair. She chastises Lenina for going out with Henry Foster too exclusively. She represents a quintessential woman according to World State standards.
Henry Foster
Henry is Lenina’s most frequent lover. At the beginning of the novel, he helps the Director show students the Hatchery and Conditioning Center, where he works. He is a conventional Alpha male: strong, tall, and attractive, with fair hair and ruddy skin. Yet, he fails to protect Lenina at the end of the novel when she is attacked by John. Instead, he runs away.
Benito Hoover
Benito is one of Lenina’s former lovers. She remembers him as being particularly hairy. He is surprised by Lenina’s interest in Bernard and is regarded as perpetually good-natured by Bernard.
The Arch-Community-Songster
The Arch-Community-Songster of Canterbury is the most esteemed guest at a party Bernard attempts to throw so he can showcase his friendship with John. When John refuses to attend, however, the Arch-Songster is disappointed and blames Bernard for making false promises, embarrassing Bernard in front of his guests. The Arch-Songster later sleeps with Lenina, who doesn’t enjoy their time together because she’s in love with John.
Popé
Popé, a native inhabitant of the New Mexico reservation Malpais, is one of Linda’s frequent lovers. He gives Linda the Shakespeare collection John reads from. When John attacks him with a knife one night after finding him in bed with Linda, Popé doesn’t fight back, but simply disarms John and then laughs at him.
Expert Q&A
In Brave New World, why is Lenina Crowne, a Beta, always wearing green?
In Brave New World, Lenina Crowne, a Beta, wearing green may symbolize her role as a challenger to societal norms, aligning with green's symbolism of harmony, nature, and balance. Although Betas typically wear a different color, Lenina's green attire might suggest her unique position or a potential oversight by Huxley. Her clothing color should not overshadow her portrayal as a sexual object, as highlighted in the novel's opening chapters.
In Brave New World, how do Linda and John differ from other savages and why does Lenina detest Linda?
Why does John in "Brave New World" detest Popé?
John detests Popé because he sees him as an intruder who exploits his mother, Linda, on the Reservation. Popé frequently brings Linda mescal, which she consumes excessively, reminding John of her promiscuity and her attempts to recreate the soma-induced escapism of her past. John's childhood was marked by witnessing Popé's exploitation of Linda and her subsequent sickness, fueling his hatred. This dysfunctional relationship makes Popé a despised father figure in John's eyes.
Who is John the Savage's father in Brave New World?
John the Savage's father is Thomas, also known as Tomakin, who is the Director of the Hatcheries in Brave New World. Thomas left John's mother, Linda, pregnant on the Reservation and returned to the World State. John was born and raised on the Reservation until Bernard Marx discovered him and brought him to the World State. This revelation led to Thomas's resignation as Director due to the scandal.
What is John's perception of love in Brave New World?
John's perception of love is shaped by his upbringing on the Savage Reservation and his deep engagement with Shakespeare's works. He idealizes romantic love as pure and monogamous, envisioning self-sacrifice and chastity akin to Shakespearean characters. This clashes with Lenina's views, who sees sex as synonymous with love due to her societal conditioning. John's expectations lead to disappointment and conflict, highlighting the cultural divide between his ideals and the World State's norms.
In "Brave New World," what does Henry Foster compare Bernard to?
Henry Foster compares Bernard to a rhinoceros, suggesting he doesn't respond to social conditioning, a key aspect of their dystopian society. This comparison highlights Bernard's nonconformity and inability to fit into a world reliant on conditioning to ensure happiness and satisfaction. Despite his oddities, such as preferring solitude, Bernard is considered harmless and competent at his job, which prevents him from being dismissed. Mond later suggests Bernard might find contentment on a remote island where conformity is less pressured.
Why is John considered a tragic hero in Brave New World, and why did he die?
In Brave New World, why is Linda disliked and rejected on the reservation, particularly by women?
Linda is disliked and rejected on the reservation because she adheres to World State conditioning, which promotes sexual promiscuity and the idea that "everyone belongs to everybody." This behavior disrupts the traditional marriage and family structures valued by the Native women, leading them to view Linda as a home-wrecker. Her actions, seen as a violation of their cultural norms, result in resentment and physical attacks from the local women.
What are major differences between Mustapha Mond and John the Savage in Brave New World?
Mustapha Mond and John the Savage from Brave New World represent contrasting worldviews shaped by their environments. John values romantic love, family, religion, and literature, drawn from his upbringing on the Savage Reservation and Shakespearean ideals. Mond prioritizes security, stability, and material abundance, believing these ensure societal equilibrium. John's desire for deep relationships and truth contrasts with Mond's acceptance of societal control and artificial happiness. Mond sacrifices humanity for stability, while John seeks authentic human experience.
What are John's strengths and weaknesses in Brave New World?
John's strengths in "Brave New World" include his integrity and passion, as he fervently stands by his beliefs, such as opposing soma distribution and refusing to have sex with Lenina. However, his weaknesses mirror these strengths; his uncompromising nature and inability to adapt to the new society lead to his downfall. As a Byronic hero, John is emotionally extreme, isolated, rebellious, and ultimately self-destructive, culminating in his tragic suicide.
In Brave New World, how and why does John change at the end?
Who is the D.H.C in Brave New World?
The D.H.C., or Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, is a key character responsible for overseeing the conditioning and hatchery processes in the World State. He is a tall, thin Alpha male who guides tours and explains the conditioning to students. The D.H.C., named Thomas, secretly fathered John the Savage with Linda, abandoning them at the Savage Reservation. When John publicly acknowledges him as his father, Thomas resigns in shame, highlighting the flaws in the World State's conditioning.
In Brave New World, how did the return from the reservation change Bernard's life?
The return from the reservation significantly changes Bernard's life by elevating his social status. Initially considered an oddity due to his short stature and unconventional ideas, Bernard gains fame and attention by bringing back John and Linda. John, in particular, captivates society's interest, allowing Bernard to be treated as a person of importance. This newfound status, however, is superficial and fleeting, ultimately leading to Bernard's downfall when his fame is lost.
What are Lenina's flaws in her social decisions and motives for associating with Bernard Max and visiting the savage reservation in Brave New World?
How does Freud’s Oedipus complex concept describe John the Savage?
Freud's Oedipus complex describes John's conflicted feelings toward his mother, Linda. Raised on an Indian Reservation, John experiences jealousy and guilt over his mother's relationships with other men, akin to a son's rivalry with his father. This mirrors Hamlet's Oedipal struggle, which John relates to deeply. John's tumultuous relationship with women, particularly Lenina, reflects his unresolved Oedipal desires, leading him to project anger and guilt onto her, reminiscent of his feelings toward Linda.
Describe Bernard's character in Brave New World.
Bernard Marx is an Alpha Plus in Brave New World, who struggles with his societal status and resents the World State's control. He is a rebel and critical of the system, yet too weak to lead a rebellion. Bernard is romantically involved with Lenina, and his character shifts from protagonist to antagonist, exploiting John the Savage. Despite his initial resistance, Bernard ultimately succumbs to the dystopia, lacking the strength to be truly heroic or transformative.
How are John the Savage and Mustapha Mond foils in Brave New World?
John the Savage and Mustapha Mond serve as foils in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World by highlighting each other's opposing ideologies. John rejects the society of the World State, while Mustapha Mond embraces and upholds it. Despite their stark differences, both characters are strong advocates for their respective cultural beliefs, attempting to convert one another. Their few but extreme differences accentuate their similarities, emphasizing the novel's exploration of contrasting worldviews.
In Brave New World, how does the character of Lenina evolve from a lab tech into a dynamic character?
Lenina evolves from a lab tech into a dynamic character primarily through her interactions with Bernard and John. Initially, she embodies a typical Beta, focused on pleasure and shallow relationships. Her relationship with Bernard hints at maturity, while her encounter with John introduces her to real love and desire. These experiences challenge her programmed mindset, making her a more complex character, driven by her feelings for John and altering her predictable societal role.
How do characters in "Brave New World" develop throughout the book?
In "Brave New World," characters like Bernard Marx, Lenina Crowne, and John the Savage develop as they confront their roles within a highly controlled society. Bernard initially rebels against societal norms, gains temporary status through John, but ultimately is exiled for nonconformity. Lenina, despite her beauty, succumbs to societal pressures, leading to her tragic end. John, caught between worlds, rejects the World State's superficiality, ultimately choosing death over a life devoid of deeper meaning.
Why was Linda shunned by the pueblo in Brave New World?
The significance of the characters' names in Brave New World
The characters' names in Brave New World hold significant symbolic meaning, often referencing historical, political, or cultural figures. For example, "Lenina Crowne" alludes to Lenin, suggesting a connection to Soviet ideology, while "Bernard Marx" references Karl Marx, hinting at revolutionary ideas. These names help underscore the novel's themes and critique of contemporary society and politics.
What motivates Bernard and Helmholtz's friendship in Brave New World?
Bernard and Helmholtz's friendship in Brave New World is motivated by their mutual dissatisfaction with societal norms. Bernard envies Helmholtz's success and hopes to gain some of his attributes, while Helmholtz, bored with his own achievements, is drawn to Bernard's rebellious spirit. Both feel like outcasts: Bernard due to his lack of social success, and Helmholtz because of his intellectual discontent, leading them to bond over shared disillusionment.
The villain in Huxley's Brave New World and their motivations
The primary antagonist in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World is Mustapha Mond. His motivations are to maintain social stability and order in the World State. He believes that sacrificing individuality, freedom, and personal connections is necessary to prevent chaos and ensure the happiness and efficiency of society.
John and Lenina's Relationship Development in "Brave New World"
In Brave New World, John, raised in a "savage" society with values of emotional depth and sexual modesty, is attracted to Lenina, who embodies the superficial and promiscuous norms of the World State. Their relationship is fraught with misunderstanding; John idealizes Lenina but is repulsed by her forwardness, while Lenina, conditioned for casual relationships, cannot comprehend John's deep emotions. This clash leads to conflict, as John struggles with his feelings, ultimately resulting in his isolation and tragedy.
In Brave New World, who are John and his parents, and how did he end up on the reservation?
John is the son of Linda and the Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning (D.H.C.), known as Tomakin. Linda, originally from the World State, was left on the reservation after an accident and gave birth to John there. He grew up on the reservation but was excluded by the locals due to his complexion. Bernard Marx becomes interested in John because his parentage could be used against the D.H.C., who wants to exile Bernard to Iceland.
Who are the main characters in Brave New World?
The main characters include Bernard Marx, an unhappy Alpha Plus who feels inadequate and seeks societal respect; John "the Savage," an intelligent, noble outsider who struggles with the World State's values and falls in love with Lenina Crowne; Lenina Crowne, a superficial citizen embodying the World State's ideals; and Mustapha Mond, a World Controller who sacrifices scientific pursuits for societal stability and engages in philosophical debates with John.
How are John and Bernard similar in Brave New World?
John and Bernard are similar in that they don't really belong in the dystopian society depicted in Brave New World. John despises the warped values of the New World, with its unhealthy obsession with mass consumption and copulation. As for Bernard, he doesn't fit in because as well as not really looking much like an Alpha, he likes to go off and spend time alone.
Compare and contrast the roles of John the Savage, Bernard Marx, and Helmholtz in Brave New World.
John the Savage, Bernard Marx, and Helmholtz Watson in Brave New World serve as critical voices against the World State. John is the most alienated, torn between two worlds, and deeply critical of the society's shallowness. Bernard is discontent but seeks acceptance, using John for status. Helmholtz, well-adjusted and intelligent, appreciates deeper cultural aspects like Shakespeare. Their varying levels of rebellion—from Bernard's conformity to John's ultimate rejection—highlight different critiques of the dystopian society.
What are the major differences between Mustapha Mond and Bernard in Brave New World?
Mustapha Mond and Bernard differ significantly in their roles and attitudes towards the World State. Mond is a Controller who prioritizes stability over personal freedom, choosing to enforce societal norms rather than pursue personal scientific interests. In contrast, Bernard is a misfit who questions societal norms and craves solitude, leading to his exile. Mond embraces leadership and orthodoxy, while Bernard's unorthodox thinking necessitates his removal to an island where he can explore ideas freely.
Helmholtz Watson's job in Brave New World
In Brave New World, Helmholtz Watson works as a lecturer at the College of Emotional Engineering, where he writes propaganda and hypnopaedic slogans designed to condition and control the population's thoughts and behaviors.
In Brave New World, how does John fit in with the boys on the reservation?
In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, John does not fit in with the boys on the reservation due to his "foreign" nature and cultural differences. He and his mother are racially distinct as they are white, unlike the indigenous people on the reservation. Additionally, his mother's polyamorous behavior conflicts with the tribe's monogamous values, leading to John's ostracism by his peers.
Lenina's role and caste in "Brave New World"
Lenina Crowne in Brave New World is a Beta, a member of the second-highest caste in the World State. Her role is that of a vaccination worker at the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre. Betas are conditioned to perform skilled but not overly intellectual tasks, and they enjoy significant privileges compared to lower castes.
Is Bernard an Alpha in Brave New World?
Bernard is an Alpha in Brave New World. However, he is a bit of an outsider Alpha because of his small stature, which is attributed to an accident with his test tube. As an Alpha Plus, he is one of the most intelligent in his caste, which also puts him at odds with his culture.
How would you psychoanalyze John the Savage in Brave New World?
John the Savage in Brave New World symbolizes the clash between the past and the dehumanized future. Educated through Shakespeare, John is an idealist who becomes disillusioned upon encountering the dystopian society. His reactions, like quoting Othello at Lenina, highlight his naive, childlike approach to a harsh reality. His tragic inability to cope with this world reflects Huxley's critique of contemporary societal trends, blending elements of both humor and tragedy.
Bernard Marx and Helmholtz Watson: Similarities and Differences
In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, Bernard Marx and Helmholtz Watson are both Alpha-Plus males dissatisfied with their society, though for different reasons. Bernard feels alienated due to his physical appearance, leading to insecurities and superficial discontent. In contrast, Helmholtz, who is handsome and popular, is unhappy with the intellectual constraints imposed by society. Both seek deeper meaning in life, but while Helmholtz's rebellion is principled, Bernard's is more self-serving. Their friendship is based on shared intellectual pursuits and a sense of individuality.
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